Daughter of the Game Prequel: In the Shadows by Kai & M Ayala & Miss Queen & Michelle James

Author:Kai & M Ayala & Miss Queen & Michelle James [KAI & Ayala, M & Queen, Miss & James, Michelle]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Urban, United States, African American, Literature & Fiction, Genre Fiction, Women's Fiction
Amazon: B00LZGXW4O
Publisher: Guaranteed Paper Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2014-07-20T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Alone

Ricardo, age 13

The house smelled rancid, like a neglected outhouse. Pete stepped into the kitchen and fought back the sick filling that filled is stomach. He had smelled death before, many times. But this was different. It was pathetic. Pete clenched his teeth as he pushed deeper into the apartment. A little girl in a t-shirt and underwear that were smeared and dirty, turned the corner. She stared up at Pete with eyes of recognition. He didn’t say anything, uncomfortable being alone with Leslie’s other children, and definitely not about to touch someone else’s daughter who only wore underwear. Pete groaned and shook his head. He should leave. But rumor had gotten back to him that Ricardo’s situation had worsened. That Leslie had worsened. And he had to come check on his son.

He hated when rumors were actually whispered truths that no one had been brave enough to tell him in person. Pete flipped through the rolodex in his mind of the people he had left in charge of checking on Ricardo. Rebe. Miriam. Marshall. Marshall was gone. Miriam was no longer inside his circle. That left Rebe, his young love, turned baby momma, turned very loyal ex. She had even stuck with him after finding that he had a baby with Leslie before her, while Rebe had officially been his girlfriend. Rebe had to know Ricardo’s situation was this bad. But, then again, the distance between he and Rebe had spread from a valley to an ocean after the shooting. She couldn’t understand how he had forgotten Michelle was in the house. Rebe barely communicated with him directly anymore, sending her messages through Michelle.

Still, he had thought they were all on the same page. That all the women in his life knew that his children came first. That they had an obligation to make sure his kids were okay. It seems that understanding was only in his mind. Miriam had kidnapped Monique, Rebe had gone for self, and Leslie was no doubt turning tricks somewhere for her next hit.

His children were scattered like dust in the wind. And the only person who understood his value system, who could teach them who they really were, was him. A job that belonged to Jimmy and now was vacant. He had been mistaken to trust anyone else. It was all on him.

Pete followed the sound of the television past the little girl. He couldn’t save all of Leslie’s children. He could only save his own. And that’s who he was looking for.

The smell of feces was coming from the bathroom. Pete stepped over the dirty towels on the floor and glanced in the full toilet. He pushed the handle. It didn’t flush. Pete removed the lid from the tank. No water. They didn’t have running water in the bottom apartment of this house. And from the looks of things, the water hadn’t been on for a few days.

“Shit!” For a second, Pete didn’t know what to do.

Another little girl turned the corner, a browner version of the first one, but this one was taller.

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